Colorado
ModerateTaylor Park to Tin Cup Pass — Gunnison High Country Road
Ghost towns and 12K feet of Colorado sky.
Feature: Camping
Arkansas
ModerateLonesome Creek Road — Ouachita National Forest Backcountry
The South's overlooked overland backcountry gem.
California
ModerateCoyote Wash to Pinnacles — Anza-Borrego Desert Jeep Trail
Desert canyon water crossings and bighorn country.
USA
ModerateBeartooth Highway Backcountry — Index Peak to Clay Butte Overlook
Above timberline with grizzlies and zero guardrails.
California
ModerateCinder Cone Volcanic Loop — Lassen Volcanic National Park Backcountry
Painted dunes and black cinder in volcanic solitude.
Colorado
DifficultOphir Pass Road — Silverton to Telluride via the Uncompahgre Plateau
Loose shale, 13,114 feet, zero margin.
Idaho
ExpertMagruder Corridor Road — Red River to Darby via the Selway-Bitterroot Divide
Wildest road in the lower 48. Full stop.
Nevada
ModerateLonesome Highway — Toiyabe Crest to Big Smoky Valley via Arc Dome Wilderness
Nevada's forgotten spine, 10K feet of silence.
Colorado
DifficultWeminuche Wilderness Approach — Elk Creek to Piedra River via Missionary Ridge
Burned ridgelines and wild cutthroat water.
Colorado
DifficultMedano Pass Primitive Road — Great Sand Dunes to Wet Mountain Valley
Sand, creek crossings, and a Sangre de Cristo crossing.